Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff, has issued a stark warning to Russia, declaring that any direct attack on the United Kingdom would provoke an “overwhelming response” from NATO.
Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Radakin spoke of the strength of the UK’s defence capabilities and the collective deterrence of the NATO alliance.
“There is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom,” Radakin said. “And that is the same for the whole of NATO. Russia knows the response would be overwhelming, whether conventional or nuclear.”
Radakin highlighted Britain’s extensive operations, which span multiple continents and underline its role as a key player in global security.
- NATO’s Largest Exercise: Over 20,000 UK personnel participated in NATO’s largest military exercise in a generation.
- Carrier Operations: Two aircraft carriers were at sea this autumn, with one leading NATO forces in the North Atlantic.
- Middle East Engagements: The Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Royal Marines were poised to evacuate citizens from Lebanon, while RAF jets targeted Houthi positions in Yemen, and Royal Navy destroyers intercepted missiles and drones in the Red Sea.
- Counterterrorism and Training: The UK marked the tenth year of Operation SHADER against ISIS and trained 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers through Operation INTERFLEX.
Radakin also praised the enduring contributions of Britain’s nuclear deterrent through Operation RELENTLESS, which he described as critical to NATO’s strategy.
Radakin credited NATO’s collective defence strategy with deterring Russian aggression, highlighting the alliance’s capacity to respond decisively.
“The strategy of deterrence by NATO works and is working,” he said. “But it has to be kept strong and strengthened against a more dangerous Russia.”
While making clear that a direct Russian attack on the UK is highly unlikely, Radakin stressed the need to remain vigilant and adapt to threats. Radakin pointed to the importance of maintaining the UK’s presence in the Indo-Pacific, which, while representing less than 5% of its total force structure, serves as a foundation for long-term strategic partnerships such as AUKUS and GCAP.
As the UK approaches its Strategic Defence Review (SDR), Radakin called for clear-eyed threat assessments and confident decision-making to guide policy and investment. Concluding his speech, Radakin championed the efficiency of the UK’s defence spending, stating that Britain “gets as much – and in many cases more – from our defence budget than our peers and our adversaries.”
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